Today we’d like to introduce you to Danielle Helmkamp.
Hi Danielle, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
It all started when I was a little girl. I would bake with my grandma and my mom and loved every second of it. The smells, the taste, the memories, etc. So, when I got older, I still loved baking. So why not do this and spread the love to everyone? I continued baking and learning the craft when my aunt mentioned that I should do this for a living. It got me thinking…so I did it! 2 months later, I was in business, and it’s been amazing ever since!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been a smooth road, especially in the beginning. I had to learn the ins and outs of permits, creating an LLC, marketing to the right people and in the right way, getting recipes just right, etc. It has definitely become easier and smoother as the years have gone by. Don’t get me wrong- it’s still a little bumpy sometimes! I’m only 3 years into this (officially), and I have lots to learn and many ways to grow. But I have grown in so many ways, too! And I can’t wait to see where the roads takes me from here!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next, you can tell us a bit more about your business.
When I tell people I’m a baker, they think pastries, cakes, chocolate chip cookies, pies, etc. (I wish I could do all those things!) So, I then explain that I don’t do any of those. I specialize in custom sugar cookies! I’m typically doing custom orders for bridal shower, birthdays, holidays, etc. Anything you can think of, I’ve probably done custom cookies for it. And as of last year, I started doing cookie decorating classes. And man, have they been a hit! People love to learn how to flood and pipe icing onto cookies. It’s such a great creative outlet for people and so much fun!
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the COVID-19 crisis?
What’s interesting is that is actually when I really started practicing and researching how do decorate cookies with royal icing! I wasn’t a business quiet yet; this was still just a hobby I loved. I took my very first cookie decorating class for my birthday just a couple weeks before Covid-19 shut down everything. During that class, I caught the sugar cookie bug, the one where I just wanted to keep going. So, I would research and practice nonstop. And why not?!? I had down time with my job being temporarily closed. So yes! I learned A LOT during this time; that was when I really nailed down how royal icing works. That was when I got comfortable and confident in my knowledge and my abilities with sugar cookies. So as unfortunate as that entire time period was, I made the best of the situation. And it helped me get to where I am today!
Pricing:
- Custom Sugar Cookies- starts at $60
- Cookie Decorating Classes-$60
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thesunflourcookieco.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/sunflour.cookie.co
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/sunflour.cookie.co.LLC
